as the establishment, and presbyterianism set up in its room. Has that establishment retained unbroken unity? No: it hath teemed with dissent-split hath succeeded to split-divisions have followed upon divisions. Roman and presbyterian dissenters are leagued to compass its destruction; but the episcopal church hath ever stood aloof from this unholy and unnatural alliance. She takes no unrighteous steps to regain the endowments of which she was dispossessed. What, then, is the result of our inquiry? It is this. The church for the first three centuries, notwithstanding all the persecutions which afflicted her, notwithstanding all the tempests and the storms which rolled around her,-notwithstanding that she was unendowed, and a purely voluntary church, supported and maintained by the free-will offerings of the faithful, yet preserved her apostolic doctrine and priesthood, and finally triumphed, not by violence, but by the force of truth, over heathen error, and established herself, or to speak more correctly, was established by God. Then, in Scotland, what do we find has occurred within the last 150 years? Presbyterianism though by law established, and by law endowed; supported and defended by the state, yet in spite of all these legal and pecuniary props, is writhing under many a wound, and tottering on its very foundation. These are remarkable and

striking facts; and the contrast between a church persecuted and unendowed, which weathered the blast, and a protected and endowed establishment struggling with legions of kindred sects for existence, make us pause and think. The one, the brutal violence of man could not destroy; and the other, human power, though it wears a kingly crown, cannot hold together. In short, we see in episcopacy a strong inherent principle of unity; and in presbyterianism a strong bias to divisions. Therefore, as our blessed Lord and his holy apostles taught, both by precept and example, unity, and peace, and brotherly love, and condemned divisions and heresies as carnal, we conclude that episcopacy wears the deeper stamp of a divine original than does presbyterianism. It is a very remarkable fact, that in the United States of America there was planted an offset from the church of England, and one from the present Scotch establishment. The former has rapidly increased,—has continued a firmly compacted body,-has not split up into episcopal sects; while the latter is the same divisible system, and has given birth to many sects. How truly, there as elsewhere, are the words of St. Jerome, and his reasons for episcopacy verified— That one chosen out of the presbyters should be set over the rest, unto whom the care of the church

66

should belong, that the seeds of schism might be taken away."

In these brief remarks on the foundation and structure of the church, I have endeavoured to prove (with what success, I leave the judicious and unprejudiced public to decide,) both from scripture, and from some of the early catholic fathers, that a government by bishops, undoubted successors of the apostles, and by presbyters and deacons, is the only legitimate constitution of the church, founded upon the apostles and prophets, of which Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone. I have carefully throughout avoided any expressions which might create irritation in the minds of people who are of a contrary opinion to myself, or who have not maturely considered the important subject. Important it most unquestionably is, for to the church were the promises of salvation made. That God hath so fixed and tied salvation down to what I may conceive to be the one true church, that none who are without its fold can possibly inherit the kingdom of heaven, it would be the most daring presumption to affirm, a most impious as well as futile attempt to coerce the all-abundant mercies of God. Nor would any christian who would follow the blessed Jesus in that beautiful feature of his character, humility, ever have the

audacity to judge upon whom the crown of neverending glory shall eventually be bestowed. The Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son, and he will judge the folk righteously, and the people with equity. Long, unwearied, and daily reflection on the subject, and some little reading, force upon me the unwavering conviction, that to the church at whose altars I minister, may be ascribed the marks of the one church, as exhibited in Acts ii. 41, 42. Holy baptism, steadfast continuance in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Apostolic doctrine we hold, for into the confession of faith, commonly called the apostles' creed, alone, are all our members baptized. A priesthood derived from the apostles we have, wherefore, we abide in their fellowship. The sacraments we have rightly and duly administered according to God's holy institution. And with a form of sound words, whose doctrines none can gainsay, so worship we the God of our fathers.

Though to such a conclusion have reflection and reading brought me, and greatly as I grieve that all in this country, at least, are not of the same church, yet never, I trust, shall I be induced to join in any unlawful plot-never, I trust, shall the devil so far gain the mastery over me, as to seduce me into the heinous sin of attempting, by violence

Ι

or by intrigue, the downfal of an establishment, to whose government I am decidedly opposed. St. Paul told the Romans, "whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." If it be the will of God to restore our church to its former condition, he will do it in the time and in the way he thinks the best. He is able now, as heretofore, by the mouth of his ministers, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. Our duty is with patience to tarry the Lord's leisure.

The church has now unfortunately been turned into the rallying point of factious men. There often have been, and perhaps will continue to be, religious, or rather polemical warfares; and though zeal for religion never can palliate violence, for when the zeal for religion is sterling, the fruits of it will be longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, patience; yet hath this zeal often been led in exculpation of violence. But now this mask of zeal is torn off, and trodden under foot, this pretext is rent into shreds and patches, and flung to the winds-the sandals are cast away, and the cloven hoof is exposed to the gaze of all men. The very men who, on the score of conscience forsooth, could not associate with the establishment, whose pulpits rung with the errors and